Effective on June 1, 2011, the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act defines "civil union" as a legal relationship between two persons, either of the same or opposite sex, established in accordance with the Act. Parties to a civil union are entitled to the same legal obligations, responsibilities, protections and benefits as are afforded to or recognized by the law of Illinois for spouses. Please note at the present time, the new Illinois law will cover only civil unions; not domestic partnerships.

Any civil unions performed in the following states before, on or after June 1, 2011 will be treated as a "qualifying event" which means that any employee entering into a civil union will have 31 days from the civil union effective date to add their new dependent(s) to all health and welfare plans (medical, dental, etc).

Vermont (2000)

California (2000)

Washington D.C. (2002)

Connecticut (2005)

New Jersey (2007)

Washington (2007)

New Hampshire (2008)

Nevada (2009)

Illinois (2011)

If your status has changed from a Domestic Partnership to a Civil Union, please review the Civil Union Notice and complete a Domestic Partnership Statement of Change form.